Bradford & District | Archive | 2005 | September | 15
From the archive, first published Thursday 15th Sep 2005.
Roadworks aimed at improving the safety of school pupils are actually putting many children in extra danger, a head teacher has warned.
Christina Briggs said work to alter a junction, install a puffin crossing and mini-roundabout close to Cottingley Village Primary School was forcing pupils off nearby footpaths and on to the heavily congested main road.
She said a partial path closure was forcing pupils walking from Heaton to cross busy Bradford Old Road to reach
the school.
Children walking from Cottingley village must use a much narrowed footpath placing them closer to vehicles.
"There's only one route to school from Heaton and pupils on foot have to cross a dangerous road while the roadworks are on," said Mrs Briggs.
The school and parents have been fighting for David Wilson Homes to open a footpath through its new nearby Willow Brook estate early to give pupils walking from Cottingley village a safe route away from the main road.
Mrs Briggs added: "If that pathway was opened the problem of children walking alongside the main road would be avoided.
"At the end of the day we appreciate that this work is being done because it will make the area around the school safer.
"We understand there will be inconveniences, but the paths to school are very dangerous at the moment."
David Wilson Homes today agreed to the school's request to open the path through the estate off Cottingley Moor Road.
A spokesman said: "As the school term has now started and construction work has moved into a quieter phase, David Wilson Homes has agreed to open the additional footpath adjacent to the Willow Brook development so local children can walk safely to school.
"The footpath will be open from the morning of Tuesday, September 20."
The improvement work began on July 25 and was due to finish on September 11 to coincide with the new school term but has been delayed.
A Bradford Council spokesman said: "We apologise for the delay in completing roadworks in Cottingley New Road and Cottingley Moor Road which have been held up because work by other parties was not completed on time.
"We hope the work will be finished within two to three weeks with minimum disruption to the public, and we are considering evening and weekend work to minimise traffic problems."
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